Dangerous Arctic freeze, lake-effect snow squalls keep hold of Ontario
An Arctic blast of air continues to lock Ontario in a deep freeze and fuel potent lake-effect snow squalls
Plenty of snow is on the way as bitterly cold temperatures spawn snow squalls off the still-unfrozen lakes across Ontario. Snow squall watches and warnings remain in effect for some regions.
Parts of southern Ontario may see more than 40 cm of accumulation from this latest lake-effect snowfall event through Wednesday.
If you're planning on travelling, be wary of poor visibility during periods of snow and slippery road conditions from icy surfaces. Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably. And, if you're planning on going outside, bundle up with extra layers and limit exposure, as extreme cold conditions take hold for the better part of this week.
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Deep chill takes hold
The Arctic airmass currently in place across Ontario will stick around through Wednesday, with the coldest temperatures expected on Tuesday.
Extreme cold warnings encompass all of northern Ontario, where dangerous and life-threatening wind chills as low as -50 are forecast. Frostbite can develop in a matter of minutes in this kind of cold.
"Relief from extreme cold is expected to be limited even during the daytime hours when temperatures typically moderate," says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the cold warning.
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Extreme cold warnings are also in place for parts of southern Ontario, including Windsor, London, and Barrie. Daytime highs will remain in the minus teens for these areas, along with brutal wind chills in the -30s.
"Extreme cold puts everyone at risk," says ECCC. "Watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes. Dress warmly. Dress in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. The outer layer should be wind resistant."
Snow squall watches and warnings for multi-day lake-effect snow event
The Great Lakes remain largely unfrozen heading into this latest cold snap. At the moment, Lake Huron is sitting at 4°C, Lake Erie is at 3°C and Lake Ontario is hovering at 1°C.
Frigid winds blowing across the still-unfrozen lakes kickstarted a renewed round of lake-effect snow. A weak system also tracking into the province will ensure that the potent snow will last through Wednesday.
Areas off Lake Huron to Georgian Bay will see meandering snow squalls, with a warning in place highlighting the potential for up to 60 cm of snow.
The heart of the snow will impact the Bruce Peninsula and along the northern Georgian Bay shores, with 30-40+ cm of snow possible locally.
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Winds gusting between 40-50+ km/h will make for low visibility and slow winter travel within squalls.
A weak system from the north will also track through the province on Wednesday, prolonging snow along the snowbelts, as well as bringing a burst of snow to the Greater Toronto Area.
The system will be short-lived, however, as it is expected to dissipate by Thursday.
Colder-than-normal temperatures are expected to continue into the final week of January. Milder air will attempt to surge north of the border progressing through the first half of February. It’s too early to know if this will bring a period of early spring-like weather, or if it’ll bring an active storm track with messy storms.
